Perhaps one of the most mysterious figures in the Bible is Melchizedek. With no introduction he appears suddenly on the scene in Genesis 14:18: “And Melchizedek, King of Salem, brought out bread and wine; now he was priest of God most High.” With this brief mention he disappears again. His title, description and briefly described activity leave no clear trail. He is said to be King of Salem, but we are not told where Salem is. Many scholars think it was Jerusalem. He is the first priest named in Scripture, “priest of God most High.” But the setting and description of his priesthood are not detailed or enlarged on.
He meets Abram who is returning from a brief, decisive battle. A confederation of rulers had conquered and occupied a portion of Palestine for 12 years, following which the kings who had been subdued rebelled. The same federation of conquering rulers banded together again and put the rebellion down, taking much booty, spoil and many prisoners. These included Abram’s nephew, Lot.Abram quickly gathered his trained men, went in pursuit of the conquerors, and with his small contingent defeated the conquering, allied force. This is described in Genesis 14:1-16. In Genesis 12 Abram was told by God to leave his relatives and country and go to a land He would show him. God promised that He would make him a great nation and that He would bless him. This promise also included an assurance that God would bless those who blessed Abram and curse those who cursed him. Abram’s success in putting to flight an army with an inferior force was probably the first fulfillment of the promise that God would curse those who cursed him (Gen. 14:20).
It is noteworthy that Melchizedek met and blessed Abram on his return. Where this took place is not stated. Melchizedek brought out bread and wine (a royal banquet hosted by a king, Melchizedek, celebrating Abram’s victory?). There is no indication, contrary to some, that this represented a Passover ceremony. (Not only did Melchizedek bless Abram, but Abram gave him a tenth of the war booty: Gen. 14:20; Heb. 7:1-2). The clear indication here is that Melchizedek was recognized by Abram as the greater of the two. Abram received Melchizedek’s blessing and paid him a tenth of the spoils.
Who was this Melchizedek to whom Abram paid homage? Some commentaries suggest that it might have been Shem. A few religious groups think it was Christ. The Bible does not identify him. He was both a king and a priest. This does not fit the Levitical, Aaronic priesthood. The Levitical priests after the order of Aaron were not kings. The kings of Israel were not priests. Often God communicated with Israelite kings through prophets whose office actually exceeded that of the kings, but Melchizedek was not of this order either.It was not God’s intention to identify Melchizedek’s person. This is made clear in Hebrews 7:3, referring to Melchizedek: “Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he abides a priest perpetually.” Some say this Scripture refers to Christ, and assume he preexisted his birth. But Melchizedek was not the Son of God. He was like him. The passage appears to say that he was not born, and that he lives forever. However The Word Biblical Commentary, on Hebrews, by William L. Lane, indicates that this is not a proper understanding. Lane renders the passage as follows: “His father, mother, and line of descent are unknown, and there is no record of his birth or of his death, but having been made to resemble the Son of God, he remains a priest continuously” (Vol. 47a, p. 157).
The writer to the Hebrews merely says that the Bible does not give Melchizedek’s genealogy, nor is there a record of when he was born or when he died. The terms “without father, without mother” come from the Greek words apator and amator. Apator does not mean “fatherless,” but “father unknown.” By implication the term amator carries the same meaning. In fact Philo uses the term amator to refer to Sarah because her mother is not mentioned in the biblical text (p. 166). The Syriac Peshita translation renders Hebrews 7:3: “whose father and mother were not entered in genealogies.”
Our commentary also states, “There is no hint in the argument that unfolds in verses 4-10 that the writer regarded Melchizedek in mythological terms. He presents the royal priest of God Most High as a historical personage in primal history. The silence of Scripture concerning Melchizedek’s parents and family line is stressed by the writer to amplify the concept of the uniqueness of his priesthood…It implies that Melchizedek’s priesthood was not established upon the external circumstances of birth and descent. It was based on the call of God and not on the hereditary process by which the Levitical priesthood was sustained. Without a recorded priestly genealogy, Melchizedek could not have qualified for Levitical priesthood. Nevertheless, this man was priest of God Most High, and Abraham recognized his dignity.”
Now the story of Melchizedek becomes clear. Psalm 110:4 brings it into focus: “The Lord [God the Father] has sworn and will not change his mind, you [Christ] are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Melchizedek’s father, mother, time of birth and death were not important for God’s purpose. What was important was the fact that his priesthood was appointed by God and did not come by inheritance as the Levitical priesthood did. Melchizedek did not take up his priestly service from a predecessor and no successor is listed or indicated. In addition, he occupied the office of king and priest jointly. This is the precedent for Christ’s office in the future Kingdom as King of kings (Rev. 19:16; 17:14) and high priest of God (Heb. 5:5, 10). Christ’s office is not inherited as the kingly and priestly lines in Israel were, but appointed by God.
Why was it necessary to appoint Christ the high priest forever? Hebrews 7:11-14: “Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek and not be designated according to the order of an Aaron? For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also [the priesthood and the law were only temporary until the seed, Christ, should come, Gal. 3:19, 24-26]. For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning the priests.”
It was necessary to show that there was a high priest of God, Melchizedek, to whom Abraham, the patriarch of the Israelites, gave respect and honor. This took place long before the Levitical priesthood was appointed, and provided a “type” and precedent for the eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ. Melchizedek exercised a priestly role on the basis of divine appointment and innate worth. Christ, the fulfillment of that type, has been appointed high priest, also based on divine appointment and on his incomparable, unparalleled qualification. Melchizedek is brought into the picture to make this important feature of God’s plan clear. The Levitical priesthood and the law served only an interim function until Christ and his awesome priestly role could be established.Melchizedek was a human person. Hebrews 7:6 implies that he did indeed have a genealogy, but it was not connected to the family of Levi.
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